Extension table



J. B. BESS EXTENSION TABLE Filed Aug. '7, 1922 2 sheets sheet 1 I Dec.23, 1924. 1,520,233? J. B. DESS EXTENSION TABLE Filed Aug. 7, 1922 2Sheets-Swat 2 Patented Dec. 23, 1924.

UNITED STATES JOSEPH B. BESS, OF BALTHVIORE, MARYLAND.

EXTENSION TABLE.

Application filed. August 7, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrn B. DEss, a citizen of the United States,residing at Baltimore city, State of Maryland, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Extension Tables, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to tables having a round top which is adapted tobe enlarged or increased in diameter by applying e):- tension leaves tothe edge thereof.

The invention has for its object to provide novel and improved means forsupporting the extension leaves, and which lat ter, when not in use, maybe supported be neath the permanent top of the table, completely out ofthe way and notexposed to view.

The invention also has for its object to pivotally support the table topso that it may be swung to assume a vertical position to afford morespace in the room for clean ing, dancing, etc.

\Vith the objects stated in view, the invention consists in a novelcombination, and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter'described andclaimed, and in order that the same may be better understood, referenceis had to the accompanying drawings, where- Figure 1 is an inverted planview of the table top minus its supporting pedestal; Fig. 2 is a centralvertical section of the table top and a fragment of the pedestal, thesection being taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectionaldetail on the line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 1 is an elevation of the completetable showing the top swung to a vertical position; Figs. 5, 6 and 7 aresectional details on the lines 55, 66, and 77 of Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is anelevation of a hinge connection between a pair of extension leaves, andFig. 9 is a perspective View of one of the supporting arms of theextension leaves. I

Referring specifically to the drawings, 10 denotes-the permanent andstationary top of the table, the same being circular in form andsupported by a center pedestal 11. To the under side of the top 10 issecured a batten or cross strip 12 which seats on a cap plate 13 securedto the top of the pedestal 11. A hinge connection is provided betweenthe batten 12 and the cap plate 13 in order that the top 10 may be swungto assume a vertical position as shown in Fig. '1, thereby Serial No.580,025.

affording more space in the room for cleaning, dancing, etc. The hingesare shown at 15, and their leaves are countersunk in the cap plate 13 asshown in Fig. 2.

N ear the edge of the table top 10, the latter is provided, on its underside, with an annular moulding strip 16 from which depends an annularrail 17 finished at its bottom edge with a moulding strip 18, thesemembers being all rigidly connected and forming a part of the table top.

The extension leaves of the table are shown at 19, and they are all ofuniform dimensions and segmental in shape so that they may be positionedin a circular series around the edge of the top 10 flush therewith andthus increase the area thereof without destroying its circular form.These leaves are grouped in pairs, with the members of each pairhingedly connected as shown at 20, the hinges being located at the outerand inner edges of the leaves so that the two leaves may be folded oneon top of the other when they are to be stored away beneath the tabletop as will be presently described.

At the site of the several joints between the leaves 19 are members forsupporting the same in extended position encircling the table top 10.Each of these members comprises a radially positioned arm 21 locatedbeneath the table top and adapted to be slid outwardly to project fromthe edge thereof and form a support for the leaves. On the under side ofthe arm 21 is a rib 22 which is increased in height near the outer endof the arm, and to said end of the arm, on the under side thereof, isfitted a moulding block to which the rib extends. The rear end of therib 22 has projecting side pins 2%, and near its outer end, the arm haslongitudinal grooves 25 in its side edges. The purpose of the parts 2-1and 25 will be presently described.

Qn the under side of the table top 10 are mounted supports for the arms21. Each of these supports comprises a pair of laterally spaced andparallel rails 26 between which the arm 21 seats and is slidablysupported. the inner edges of said strips being shaped so that the spacetherebetween corresponds to the cross-sectional contour of the arm 21and its bottom rib 22, as clearly shown in Fig. o. At the site of eacharm 21, the moulding 16 and the rail 17 is cut away to form openings forletting the arms through when they are slid outwardly to leaf-supportingposition, and when said arms are slid back when the leaves are not inuse, the moulding blocks 23 and the front ends of the arms cover saidopenings so that the appearance of the table is not marred. The ends ofthe batten 12 are recessed, as shown at 27 to accommodate twodiametrically opposite sets of the rails 26 The leaves 19 are supportedin position for use by laying the same on the projecting ends of thearms 21 after the latter have been slid outwardly to extend beyond theedge of the tabletop 10. The outward movement of the arms 21 is limitedby the pins 2 L abutting against the rear ends of the rails 26. In orderto prevent upward displacement of the leaves, they are provided on thebottom with hook-shaped blocks 28 positioned to enter the side grooves25 of the arms 21 as shown in Figs. 1 and 6. The leaves are furthersecured in position for use by latch bolts 29 mounted on the bottomthereof and adapted to enter the grooves 25. Referring to Fig. 1, itwill be noted that the blocks 28 are at the free ends of the members. ofthe respective pairs of hingedly connected leaves, whereas the latchbolts 29 are at the hinged ends thereof. This arrangement enables thehooked ends of the blocks 28 to be inserted into grooves 25 when theleaves are straightened out. Alternate ones of the arms 21 have theirgrooves entered by the hook-shaped blocks 28, whereas the other armshave their grooves entered by the latch bolts 29.

When the leaves 19 are not in use, they may be stored away beneath thetable top 10 as shownby dotted lines in Fig. 1, and for this purposethere are mounted on the under side of said top and the under side 'ofthe batten 12, bracket members 80, and the bottom of the moulding 18carries turnbu'ttons 31 Each pair of leaves will be folded so that oneleaf lies above the other, and the folded pair of leaves is then placedon a pair of bracket arms 30, and the turnbutton 31 is swung to comebeneath the folded leaves. Figure 2 shows in dotted lines the leavesfolded and stored away beneath the table top. The arms 21 will, ofcourse, also he slid back beneath the table top, so that the latter nowhas the appearance of an ordinary round top table.

In order to divide the storage spaces for the leaves 19, there aremounted beneath the table top 10, wedge-shaped blocks 32, which are sopositioned that they come between stored pairs of leaves and thus serveas spacers for the same, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 5.

Referring to Fig. 3, it will be noted that the moulding 16 projectsslightly from the edge of the table top 10 so as to provide a supportfor the inner edge oft-he leaves 19, the same seating on the projectingportion of the moulding.

I claim:

1. In an extension table, a permanent round top, a moulding on the underside thereof and projecting from its edge, a series of leaves forenlarging the area of the same, said leaves being arranged in hingedlycoimected pairs, radial arms supported beneath the table top andprojecting from the edge thereof to support the leaves at their meetingedges, and with the inner edges of the leaves seating on the aforesaidprojecting portion of the moulding, said arms being slid'able inwardlyto lie wholly beneath the table top, and having longitudinal sidegrooves, means carried by the pairs of leaves at the free ends thereoffor holding the same against upward displacement, said means engagingthe grooves of the arms coinciding with said free ends of the leaves,and latches carried by the pairs of leaves at the hinged ends thereofand engageable with the grooves of the arms coinciding with said hingedends. I

2. In an extension table having a permanent round top, a moulding on theunder side thereof and projecting from its edge, a circumferentialseries of leaves for enlarging the area of the top, said leaves beingarranged in hingedly connected pairs, radial arms supported beneath thetable and mounted for longitudinal sliding movement to project beyondthe periphery of the permanent top and support the leaves at theirmeeting edges and with the inner edges of the leaves resting on the,aforesaid projecting portion of the moulding, said arms being slid-ableinwardly to lie wholly beneath the table top and having longitudinalside grooves provided with closed ends, certain of the arms supportingleaves at their free ends and other arms supporting said leaves at theirhinged'ends, lugs carried by the pairs of leaves at the free endsthereof for holding the same against upward move ment, said lugsengaging the grooves of those arms supporting the free ends of theleaves, and latches carried by the series of leaves at the hinged endsthereof and en- .gageable with the grooves of those arms supporting thehinged ends, said lugs and latches substantially filling the respectivegrooves whereby to limit the inward move ment of the radial arms.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signa ture.

JOSEPH 13.131359.

